Fete Accompli | Bulgari’s Secret Garden

By Edward Barsamian March 10, 2011 4:11 pmMarch 10, 2011 4:11 pm

The Lower East Side of Manhattan isn’t typically known for its lush gardens and pastoral atmosphere, but last night Bulgari transformed the Bowery Hotel’s private dining room into a Mediterranean Eden. Jasmine with bursts of lemon provided the centerpieces of the table, but also the brand’s latest fragrance, Mon Jasmin Noir.

Guests like the “Gossip Girl” patriarch Matthew Settle, the sisters-in-law and designers Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, and the documentarian Maggie Betts (whose film “The Carrier” is premiering next month at the Tribeca Film Festival) lingered over cocktails and tracks provided by Paul Sevigny, who looked Savile Row-ready in a navy suit. An English garden-like setting replete with rose trees and overstuffed settees and couches acted as the backdrop. Sprinkled among the boldface names were tables featuring the exotic and rich ingredients providing an olfactory overture, especially the dried wood and musky nougatine that blended sweet and savory, providing the ideal segue into dinner.

Dinner table décor from Lewis Miller furthered the oversaturated theme with a bounty of greens and textures bleeding off the walls, contrasting the dim lights and grand candelabra as luminous as the conversations. After the first course, Veronica Bulgari, resplendent in an amethyst, gold and diamond necklace from the brand’s new collection, spoke briefly about the scent before introducing the perfumer Olivier Polge. “Jasmine has an enveloping aura of femininity but never overwhelms the woman wearing it,” Bulgari said. The scent is ” mysterious, sensual and elegant without being overly aggressive.” The three-course meal concluded with custom confections from Audrey Dettmar of Home Run Ballerina integrating the fragrance’s notes and a gift bag containing the scent of the evening.